Page 60 of Breathless Recruiter

“Yes, you?”

“Wyatt?”

He dragged a hand down his face. “Yes, you. Wyatt Supreme.” When I didn’t answer, his head tilted to the side. “How are you adjusting to human life? Are the sessions with Kiki going well?”

“It’s super.” It wasn’t a lie. The nerves since joining Secret Identities had washed away. I got along with Drew and Orion and considered them friends. I had even learned to navigate the boss’s devilish sister. Despite that, I don’t think that’s what Arthur wanted to know. Humans had a knack for not saying what they meant. It made conversations incredibly aggravating.

“I had my first date with Dustin.”

Arthur smiled. “How did it go?”

“Horrible. At first. I took Orion and Drew’s advice?—”

“That’s your first mistake.”

“We played miniature golf. I defeated the clown and walked away victorious.” Arthur held up a finger, ready to interrupt, butthen remained silent. “I liked my first date. There needs to be more dates with him. I want to do everything with him.”

“Sounds like you have a crush.”

I glanced at my hands. “I tried very hard to not crush him.”

Arthur shook his head before giving a light laugh. I respected Arthur and what he wanted to do with the company. It made me happy to help protect Vanguard when I wasn’t wearing a cape. The reason I liked the man was that, even when my alien heritage shone through, he’d take the time to explain it.

“A crush is how humans describe a feeling in our chests. It’s when you like somebody, and you’re not sure they feel the same way. Buddy, it sounds like you have a crush on Dustin.”

I thought about it for a moment. I don’t think this was quite what he described. “What is it called when you know they feel the same?”

“For all the weird words we invent, we don’t have nearly enough to describe what you’re going through.” Arthur’s cheeks turned red as the smile grew. “Love is a good word.”

Humans used the wordlovein such weird ways. I loved chocolate. I loved getting a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. The emotions, the swelling in my chest when I thought of him, surpassed even a Fudgy bar.

“I can see it on your face. This is complicated and not just for you. Humans aren’t great at expressing it.”

“Why not?”

Arthur let out a low whistle. “It’s a difficult word because nobody experiences it quite the same way. I love Ricardo. I know he loves me. We show it in different ways. Ricardo is an intense man, and even after all we’ve been through, I wonder if we’re on the same page.”

That sounded complicated. “Then how do you know you love each other?”

Arthur rested a hand on his chest. “When he cooks for me, I can see it. When I fall asleep on the couch, and he carries me to bed, I know it’s there.”

I thought about how Dustin sat down next to me during my lunch break. I experienced it, but when he pulled out the Fudgy bar. He came into my life like a tornado, and I wanted to be better because of him. At the same time, he accepted me just as I was.

“I love Dustin,” I whispered. It felt good to say it.

“Just be careful with that word. Humans have lots of self-imposed rules around using it.”

“If I feel it, why wouldn’t I say it?”

Arthur stood and walked around his desk. He gestured for me to stand. As soon as I did, he threw his arms around my chest, embracing me as tightly as a human could.

“Wyatt, sometimes you make a better human than the rest of us.”

“Hey!” Janet had stormed into the office. “I was told we weren’t allowed to cop a feel anymore.”

“I’m not touching his butt,” Arthur barked. “We’re celebrating Wyatt falling hard.”

Janet jumped in, wrapping her arms around us both. “Is this because of the security guard? Wyatt, don’t let that sexy beefcake get away. If you don’t wreck him, I’llhaveto.”

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